How To Make a Strawberry Rose Bouquet for Valentines Day!

Aussie Strawberries are red, plump, juicy and in-season at Your Local Greengrocer, so we thought we’d let you in on a little secret that’s sure to impress your loved one – just in time for Valentine’s Day tomorrow!

I’m sure you’ve all heard that chocolate fondue and strawberries are a winning combo for a romantic date, so we’ve gone one better with a far more creative idea that’s not only easy to do, but will show your significant other just how much you care about them without breaking the bank.

Leave the roses at the store and give them a bouquet of strawberries!

1. Gather your ingredients. Firstly, you’ll want to head on over to Your Local Greengrocer and grab the best strawberries you can find. To turn your fruit into flowers, try looking for large strawberries that are bright red. Lightly press one of the strawberries with your thumb to test for firmness. If the strawberries are too soft, they will be hard to shape.

You’ll need:

– 1-2 punnets of fresh quality Aussie strawberries from Your Local Greengrocer, washed and dried.
– A packetof wooden skewers (use one to cut each flower)
– A small paring knife (for best results sharpen before use) –
– A bunch of real or fake flower stems for presentation (if you can’t find these, just use wooden skewers!)
– Some green food colouring (if you are using wooden skewers instead of flower stems)

2. Push the base of your strawberry into the skewer. The base is the end of the strawberry with leaves. This will keep the berry in place while you create your flower. Only push the skewer in far enough to hold the berry firmly. Remember, you don’t want to hit the skewer as you carve your top petals.

3. Create the outer petals. Use the paring knife to slice a small section of your strawberry downwards toward the stem about 1/2 cm deep. Depending on the size of your strawberry, you should be able to get 4-6 of these petals circling around the bottom of your strawberry.

– After you make your incisions, use the flat of the knife to slightly bend each petal outwards, so it curls like a flower.
– As you cut, be careful to only cut into the strawberry slightly. Avoid removing any part of it.

4. Add more layers of petals to your strawberry. You should be able to get about 3-4 rows of petals on a strawberry. Continue making slight cuts around the berry. Each row will have fewer petals as you move upward.

– As you get toward the top, make your cuts as thin and close to the skin of the berry as possible. This will help your petals curl outward and look more realistic.

5. Finish the top of your strawberry rose. To do this, drive your knife downward into the top of your berry to create the look of final petals.

– After you make these final cuts, spin your flower around and look at it. Adjust it as you see fit. Make the petals deeper or curl them out more if you feel like this would improve the aesthetic.

6. Build a bouquet. To add an element of realism to your strawberry roses, display them atop flower stems. You can use stems from plastic flowers for a reusable option or cut the stems off of fresh flowers.

– For fresh stems, take a sharp knife to create a 45-degree angle on each of your stems. This will help them glide easily into the strawberries.
– Carefully stick your stems into the base of your strawberries where the skewers were. Only push them in far enough that the flowers feel secure. You don’t want the stem to protrude from the top of your strawberry flower.
– Place your finished flowers in a vase of your choice to serve.
– If you don’t want to use stems, you can also dye your skewers green. Mix some green food colouring and water in a large dish like a roasting pan. Then, lay all your skewers in the pan, and leave them to dye for 30 minutes. Lay them out on a paper towel to dry.

7. Get creative with it! When putting together the bouquet, why not add a couple of chocolate-covered strawberries amongst your strawberry roses?

– Melt up some milk, dark and white chocolate in separate bowls, pop your strawberries on wooden skewers and dip them in.
– If you’re feeling adventurous, why not add some sprinkles to add a bit of colour?
– Rest them on some non-stick baking paper and let them set in the fridge for about an hour. It’s as easy as that!